BOC adopts automated export system in March

MANILA, Philippines - Exporters could benefit from reduced cost and time of doing business as the Bureau of Customs (BoC) implements next month the automated export declaration system (AEDS) in all customs territories.

The AEDS, a component of the bureau’s electronic-to-mobile (E2M) system, eliminates the need for signatures in the processing and approval of export declaration. The approval is in the form of a barcode printed in the approved export declaration as the authority to load.

“I am recommending for its implementation first week of March since the issues related to the system can be handled,” said Nomie Gonzales, chief of the BoC’s systems management division.

In a meeting of the Export Development Council Networking Committee on Trade Policy and Procedure Simplification (NCTPPS), Gonzales said the only problem they encounter is that some exporters do not apply for accreditation and registration because it is still not mandatory.  

Under the AEDS, only exporters, customs brokers and customs forwarders registered under BoC’s client profile registration system may lodge export declarations electronically through its accredited value-added service providers (VASP).  

Gonzales reiterated that the system does not allow amendments but instead, exporters have to lodge a new export declaration. However, the “unused” export declarations have to be cancelled within 15 days.

“Every modification in export declarations entails (shipment) delay, thus we are discouraging amendments. Cancellations should pass through the office of BoC district collector,” she explained.       

Moreover, Gonzales said that the payment of duties, taxes and fees can be made at the Landbank BOC branch, the BOC’s export division office or cashier Division.

Guillermo Parayno, president of E-Konek Pilipinas, earlier said that the system developed by Unisys has the pre-payment component as an alternative payment scheme. E-Konek is an accredited VASP of the BoC for its E2M computerization project.

Gonzales said the BoC would conduct an information campaign among stakeholders to ensure they are ready for implementation of AEDS.